Businessman and farmer, Clouston Mcintyre 1936-2012

CLOUSTON MCINTYRE, the driving force behind Kettle Produce, one of the biggest vegetable prepackers in the country, died suddenly while on holiday in Italy.

Some 30 years ago, he, along with fellow Alec Samson, foresaw the major developments in vegetable purchasing.

No longer would the housewife want to buy dirty, field-grown vegetables, preferring instead to pick up a ready-to-use prepack.

Getting a toehold into supplying the major retailers was very difficult, but in that first year of 1976, there was one piece of good fortune, as that was the year of the big drought.

Traditional suppliers in the east of England saw their crops shrivel and disappear, then the buyers became aware that Fife and the east of Scotland provided another supply option.

Another factor, making the start up of vegetable growing in this part of Scotland slightly easier, was the demise of the sugar beet factory in Cupar, which left farmers looking for another cash crop to supplement their income.

The growth of the company was largely down to Mr Mcintyre spending long hours overseeing the details of a business supplying fresh produce 365 days a year – a tough industry in which competition is fierce and standards high.

He was in the office or prowling along the packing lines from early in the morning to late at night.

His belief and passion for growing, and the high standards he set, were seen and shared by the local farming community and the major multiples.

Mr Mcintyre’s parents were both of farming stock and highly respected in the farming industry.

His father, known to many as Charlie Mack, was a college advisor and had a major influence on farming in Fife in the middle years of last century.

His mother, Florrie, was an Orcadian and was a wellrespected poultry advisor and a keen and knowledgeable gardener – a gift she passed on to her son.

Mr Mcintyre was born and brought up in Wormit, and after attending the local primary school he went to Bell Baxter High School where he gained a scholarship to Cambridge.

This he turned down in preference for Aberdeen University, where he took his honours degree in agriculture and where he also gained a lifetime’s affection for his alma mater.

After gaining his degree he returned to Fife where he took up a post as a farm manager and then the tenancy of a farm near Ladybank.

There he startled his more traditional neighbours by growing strawberries – not an acre or two, but a staggering 40 acres.

This was his introduction to supplying fresh produce to markets.

Then, along with three other farmers, he set up Eden Bulbs, with the intent of growing tulips.

When asked why, his response was: “Because they are so difficult to grow, no one else will try.”

Tulips were grown successfully with 12 acres of spring flowers brightening up the Fife landscape.

The venture disbanded when rising oil prices increased the heating costs for the glasshouse growers in the Clyde Valley, making the production of blooms for Christmas unviable.

Before he left to set up Kettle Produce, he was also the general manager of Fife Growers, a farmers’ cooperative that initially grew a large acreage of vining peas.

This group has now transformed itself into East of Scotland Growers, one of the largest growers of broccoli in western Europe and a major supplier to Kettle Produce.

He was never a businessman who sought the limelight, either for himself or the company, but in 2010 he received a lifetime achievement award from one of the major multiples in recognition of his efforts in the produce industry.

In his scarce leisure time, he enjoyed socialising and loved a good party.

He enjoyed playing bridge at all levels and always liked to win.

His foreign travel also gave him great pleasure, and his family all enjoyed many weekend breaks to various cities.

He developed a love of art and particularly enjoyed visiting national and local galleries, always favouring Scottish artists.

His garden gave him great joy and he rarely had a day out without returning with a boot load of “really magnif icent specimens.”

He is survived by his wife, Elspeth, daughter Susie and son Andrew.

Clouston Mcintyre.